Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Corona, CA
🏆 Corona leads 12 of 23 categories
Chico
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Corona
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,727 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
66 ✓ Safer
Population
158,346 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Rent averages $660/mo less ($1,360 vs $2,020)
Homes cost $197k less ($427,600 vs $624,200)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Corona
Cons
Median income trails Corona by $37,795/yr
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.6%)
Corona, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,795 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Chico
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (249.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 56°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,020/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $624,200
Longer commutes — 35.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Chico
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 104.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Chico
Median Home Value
$197k less
$427,600 vs $624,200
Corona
Median Income
$37,795
$103,727 vs $65,932/yr
Corona
Violent Crime
64% lower
249.4 vs 699.2 per 100k
Corona
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Corona, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,020⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $103,727 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 35.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 30.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Corona-Norco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 93.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 11.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 158,346 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 63.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Corona's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Chico is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Corona leads 12 of 23 categories. Chico wins 11 and Corona wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Chico to Corona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $624,200 median home), income ($65,932 vs $103,727), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Corona, CA are about 470 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.